Bacterial Population Genetics in Infectious Disease


Book Description

This book is a unique synthesis of the major concepts and methods in bacterial population genetics in infectious disease, a field that is now about 35 yrs old. Emphasis is given to explaining population-level processes that shape genetic variation in bacterial populations and statistical methods of analysis of bacterial genetic data. A "how to" of bacterial population genetics, which covers an extremely large range of organisms Expanding area of science due to high-throughput genome sequencing of bacterial pathogens Covers both fundamental approaches to analyzing bacterial population structures with conceptual background in bacterial population biology Detailed treatment of statistical methods




Genetics of Bacterial Diversity


Book Description

While other texts in this area deal almost solely with the "workhorse strain" Escherischia coli, Genetics of Bacterial Diversity is the first to deal with genetics and molecular biology of the wide range of other bacteria, which carry out a whole spectrum of important scientific, medical, agricultural, and biotechnological activities. Taking genetic diversity as its theme it illustrates a range of interesting phenomena such as genetic systems controlling pathogenicity, symbiosis, chemotaxis, metabolic characteristics, and differentiation. With each chapter written by acknowledged experts, this definitive book contains up-to-the-minute information on this rapidly developing field.Written by leading experts, this text--aimed at graduate-level students and above--describes the genetics and molecular biology of a wide range of bacteria.




The Pangenome


Book Description

This open access book offers the first comprehensive account of the pan-genome concept and its manifold implications. The realization that the genetic repertoire of a biological species always encompasses more than the genome of each individual is one of the earliest examples of big data in biology that opened biology to the unbounded. The study of genetic variation observed within a species challenges existing views and has profound consequences for our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms underpinning bacterial biology and evolution. The underlying rationale extends well beyond the initial prokaryotic focus to all kingdoms of life and evolves into similar concepts for metagenomes, phenomes and epigenomes. The book’s respective chapters address a range of topics, from the serendipitous emergence of the pan-genome concept and its impacts on the fields of microbiology, vaccinology and antimicrobial resistance, to the study of microbial communities, bioinformatic applications and mathematical models that tie in with complex systems and economic theory. Given its scope, the book will appeal to a broad readership interested in population dynamics, evolutionary biology and genomics.




Population Genetics of Bacteria


Book Description

A authoritative summary of the current knowledge of the genetic organisation of bacterial populations.




Microbial Evolution


Book Description

Bacteria have been the dominant forms of life on Earth for the past 3.5 billion years. They rapidly evolve, constantly changing their genetic architecture through horizontal DNA transfer and other mechanisms. Consequently, it can be difficult to define individual species and determine how they are related. Written and edited by experts in the field, this collection from Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology examines how bacteria and other microbes evolve, focusing on insights from genomics-based studies. Contributors discuss the origins of new microbial populations, the evolutionary and ecological mechanisms that keep species separate once they have diverged, and the challenges of constructing phylogenetic trees that accurately reflect their relationships. They describe the organization of microbial genomes, the various mutations that occur, including the birth of new genes de novo and by duplication, and how natural selection acts on those changes. The role of horizontal gene transfer as a strong driver of microbial evolution is emphasized throughout. The authors also explore the geologic evidence for early microbial evolution and describe the use of microbial evolution experiments to examine phenomena like natural selection. This volume will thus be essential reading for all microbial ecologists, population geneticists, and evolutionary biologists.




Genetics and Evolution of Infectious Diseases


Book Description

Genetics and Evolution of Infectious Diseases, Third Edition discusses the evolving field of infectious diseases and their continued impact on the health of populations, especially in resource-limited areas of the world where they must confront the dual burden of death and disability due to infectious and chronic illnesses. Although substantial gains have been made in public health interventions for the treatment, prevention, and control of infectious diseases, in recent decades the world has witnessed the emergence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing antimicrobial resistance, and the emergence of many new bacterial, fungal, parasitic, and viral pathogens. Fully updated and revised, this new edition presents the consequences of such diseases, the evolution of infectious diseases, the genetics of host-pathogen relationship, and the control and prevention strategies that are, or can be, developed. This book offers valuable information to biomedical researchers, clinicians, public health practitioners, decisions-makers, and students and postgraduates studying infectious diseases, microbiology, medicine, and public health that is relevant to the control and prevention of neglected and emerging worldwide diseases. - Takes an integrated approach to infectious diseases - Provides the latest developments in the field of infectious diseases - Focuses on the contribution of evolutionary and genomic studies for the study and control of transmissible diseases - Includes updated and revised contributions from leading authorities, along with six new chapters




Handbook of Statistical Genomics


Book Description

A timely update of a highly popular handbook on statistical genomics This new, two-volume edition of a classic text provides a thorough introduction to statistical genomics, a vital resource for advanced graduate students, early-career researchers and new entrants to the field. It introduces new and updated information on developments that have occurred since the 3rd edition. Widely regarded as the reference work in the field, it features new chapters focusing on statistical aspects of data generated by new sequencing technologies, including sequence-based functional assays. It expands on previous coverage of the many processes between genotype and phenotype, including gene expression and epigenetics, as well as metabolomics. It also examines population genetics and evolutionary models and inference, with new chapters on the multi-species coalescent, admixture and ancient DNA, as well as genetic association studies including causal analyses and variant interpretation. The Handbook of Statistical Genomics focuses on explaining the main ideas, analysis methods and algorithms, citing key recent and historic literature for further details and references. It also includes a glossary of terms, acronyms and abbreviations, and features extensive cross-referencing between chapters, tying the different areas together. With heavy use of up-to-date examples and references to web-based resources, this continues to be a must-have reference in a vital area of research. Provides much-needed, timely coverage of new developments in this expanding area of study Numerous, brand new chapters, for example covering bacterial genomics, microbiome and metagenomics Detailed coverage of application areas, with chapters on plant breeding, conservation and forensic genetics Extensive coverage of human genetic epidemiology, including ethical aspects Edited by one of the leading experts in the field along with rising stars as his co-editors Chapter authors are world-renowned experts in the field, and newly emerging leaders. The Handbook of Statistical Genomics is an excellent introductory text for advanced graduate students and early-career researchers involved in statistical genetics.




Selective Sweep


Book Description

Selective Sweep deals with the theory and practice of detection of recent adaptive evolution at the genomic level from the patterns of DNA polymorphism. Recent advances in genomic sequencing provide the background for analysis of polymorphic sites in large chromosomal regions or even in whole genome, thus providing the tool for effective identification of loci that are under strong pressure of positive selection. For this reason, the studies of selective sweep, which formerly were of interest mostly to evolutionists, have become widely recognized and appreciated by the large biological community involved in identification of the targets of selection during speciation, host/pathogen interactions, and resistance to chemical agents.




Introduction to Population Genetics


Book Description

Making the theory of population genetics relevant to readers, this book explains the related mathematics with a logical organization. It presents the quantitative aspects of population genetics, and employs examples of human genetics, medical evolution, human evolution, and endangered species. For an introduction to, and understanding of, population genetics.




Horizontal Gene Pool


Book Description

Bacteria are the most ubiquitous of all organisms. Responsible for a number of diseases and for many of the chemical cycles on which life depends, they are genetically adaptable. Vital to this adaptability is the existence of autonomous genetic elements-plasmids-which promote genetic exchange and recombination. The genes carried by any particular plasmid may be found in only a few individuals of any species but can also be shared with other species and thus constitute a horizontal gene pool. This book explains the various contributions that plasmids make to this pool: the replication, stable inheritance and transfer modules, the phenotypic markers they carry, the way they evolve, the ways they contribute to their host population and the approaches that we use to study and classify them. It also looks at what we know about their activity in natural communities and the way that they interact with other mobile elements to promote bacterial evolution.